Serena Williams alleged she was the victim of sexism after an extraordinary meltdown during her US Open final defeat to Naomi Osaka.

The headlines were supposed to be about Williams’ bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title and Osaka trying to become Japan’s first slam winner, but instead an argument with umpire Carlos Ramos that escalated dominated the match.

Williams was furious when she was given a coaching violation early in the second set after a hand gesture from her coach Patrick Mouratoglou, telling Ramos she would rather lose than cheat.

She was then docked a point for a second violation when she smashed her racket. Continuing her argument with Ramos at the next change of ends, Williams accused him of being a thief for taking a point away from her.

Ramos gave her a third violation, which resulted in a game penalty, putting Osaka 5-3 ahead. A tearful Williams argued her case with tournament officials but, although she held serve in the next game, Osaka served out the victory 6-2 6-4.

Asked in her press conference what she would have done differently in hindsight, Williams became increasingly emotional as she said: “I can’t sit here and say I wouldn’t say he’s a thief, because I thought he took a game from me.

“But I’ve seen other men call other umpires several things. I’m here fighting for women’s rights and for women’s equality and for all kinds of stuff. For me to say ‘thief’ and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark. He’s never taken a game from a man because they said ‘thief’. It blows my mind."

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Two British tourists are among seven injured after they were attacked by an armed man in Paris, local media reported.

A man armed with a knife and an iron bar is said to have attacked people on the banks of a canal in the north-east of the city at just after 11pm local time.

Four people were injured seriously, while Le Parisien said one British tourist has a chest injury while another was stabbed in the head.

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The public is being “defrauded” as policing stands on the brink of crisis in many areas, according to the head of a body that represents senior officers.

Chief Superintendent Gavin Thomas, President of the Police Superintendents’ Association, will this week voice “genuine fears” for the service in England and Wales, saying it is “utterly reliant” on fewer people working longer and harder.

The officer will tell the Association’s annual conference: “I cannot emphasise enough that the delivery of routine policing functions should not be dependent on officers effectively giving their time for free by staying past their shift times or working on leave days.

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